[09/29/10 - 10:23 AM]First Round of Performers Announced for "The 44th Annual Cma Awards" Airing November 10 on AbcDierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and
Blake Shelton are among those set to perform.

[via press release from ABC]

FIRST ROUND OF PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR "THE 44th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" AIRING NOVEMBER 10 ON ABC

The star-packed lineup for "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" launches with today's announcement that Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and the pairing of Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson are the first group of performers confirmed for "Country Music's Biggest Night�." "The 44th Annual CMA Awards," hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Bentley is nominated in three categories this year, including Male Vocalist, Album for Up On The Ridge, and Musical Event of the Year for "Bad Angel," featuring Lambert and Jamey Johnson. Bentley won the Horizon Award in 2005. He also received the 2008 CMA International Artist Achievement Award.

Chesney, who is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for his performance of "I'm Alive" with Dave Matthews, has won a total of seven CMA Awards. With four trophies to his credit (2004, 2006-2008), he is tied with Garth Brooks (1991, 1992, 1997, 1998) for the most wins in the Entertainer of the Year category. After taking most of 2010 off the road, he returns with his new album, Hemingway's Whiskey, in-stores now.

Jackson is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for his duet with Lee Ann Womack on "Till the End." He has won 16 CMA Awards, including three trophies for Entertainer of the Year (1995, 2002, 2003). He will release 34 Number Ones, a career-spanning, double-disc collection featuring all of his No. 1 hits on Nov. 23.

Lady Antebellum, the reigning Vocal Group of the Year, is nominated in five categories this year, including Entertainer; Album for Need You Now; Vocal Group; Single for "Need You Now"; and Music Video of the Year for "Need You Now," which was directed by David McClister. Group members Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, and Hillary Scott each received individual nominations for Song of the Year for "Need You Now," which they penned with songwriter Josh Kear. The group could receive two additional trophies as producers, should they win Single and Album of the Year, which they co-produced with Paul Worley. Lady Antebellum has a career total of three CMA Awards.

Lambert, the top nominee for 2010 with nine nominations, also achieved the most nominations of any female artist in CMA Awards history. She received nominations for Entertainer; Female Vocalist; Album for Revolution produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke; two for Single, "The House That Built Me" and "White Liar;" Song for "White Liar," which she wrote with Natalie Hemby; Musical Event for "Bad Angel" with Bentley and Johnson; and two for Music Video of the Year for "The House That Built Me," directed by Trey Fanjoy, and "White Liar," directed by Chris Hicky.

Shelton is nominated in four categories, including Male Vocalist; and Single (produced by Scott Hendricks); Musical Event; and Music Video for "Hillbilly Bone," which featured Trace Adkins and was directed by Roman White. Shelton's latest SIX PAK, All About Tonight, is in stores now.

Zac Brown Band is nominated for Entertainer; Vocal Group; Musical Event for "Can't You See" featuring Kid Rock; and New Artist of the Year. The last time an act was nominated for New Artist and Entertainer of the Year in the same year was Ricky Skaggs in 1982. Bandmates Zac Brown and John Driskell Hopkins each picked up an additional individual nomination for Song of the Year for "Toes," which they wrote with Wyatt Durrette and Shawn Mullins. The group's new album, You Get What You Give, is in stores now.

Tickets for the 2010 CMA Awards are on sale and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway), Nashville. Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. All ticket prices include sales tax, but exclude applicable service/handling fees. Purchase tickets early for best available seats. In 2009, the CMA Awards sold out in advance.

"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2010 CMA Awards. Chevrolet, Proud Sponsor of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music.